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Researchers Step Up Efforts to Enlighten Ikolomani Community on Safe Gold Mining Activities

MMUST team with the Ikolomani Sub-county security team, including Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs after a meeting at the DCC’s office

Researchers from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology led by Prof. Peter Bukhala and Prof. Elizabeth Omukunda held a consultative meeting with stakeholders from Ikolomani Constituency to help the community in curbing the effects of artisanal gold mining on education, environment and human health in Ikolomani Sub-county. The meeting was held at the office of the Ikolomani Deputy County Commissioner’s office and attended by Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs from the region.

Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Mr. Geoffrey Mayama welcomed the University research team and applauded them for the initiative, terming it as a timely intervention that will help the Ikolomani community to professionally get involved in gold mining activities. Prof. Bukhala, who also hails from the region, urged the administrators and their families to take advantage of the availability of the University and pursue further studies, saying that education is the only way to change the lives of members of the community.  He further said that MMUST has a number of scholarships that can help needy students within the region to further their studies. One of the scholarships is the talent scholarship, meant to help needy but talented students study as they represent the University in sporting activities.

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 Prof. Peter Bukhala gifts the Ikolomani Deputy County Commissioner a MMUST shirt. Looking on are Dr. Joseph Owino and Dr. Christine Wanjala.

The research Principal Investigator (PI) Prof. Elizabeth Omukunda stressed on the need for key stakeholders in the community like Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs, Members of County Assembly (MCA)and Members of Parliament from the region to work with the University researchers.  This will enable them to share their views on how the gold miners’ lives can be safeguarded. She alluded to the fact that many people have lost their lives in the gold mines due to insecure approach to mining activities and the use of wrong tools. Prof. Omukunda is also an Associate Dean at the School of Natural Sciences in MMUST.

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Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs from Ikolomani Sub-County giving views on gold mining to MMUST researchers.

Other members of the MMUST team present during the meeting were: The Dean School of Natural Sciences, Dr. Joseph Owino, the Chairperson Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Dr. Christine Wanjala, the Chairperson Department of Economics from the School of Business Dr. Umulkher Ali, Chairperson, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Dr. Peter Cherop, the Chairperson, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Dr. Iddah Maulid, the Chairperson, Department of Education Planning and Management, from the School of Education, Dr. Pamela Buhere, and Peter Nyongesa from the Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine.

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MMUST team, led by Prof. Bukhala present a University branded umbrellathe to the Ikolomani DCC with  during a visit to his office.

By: Wilberforce Shiundu

 

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